This report describes a five year research and development plan which addresses the need to improve instrumentation and control systems in fossil fired power generating plants. The plan represents the combined effort of electric power utility representatives, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), EPRI contractors and a variety of suppliers and consulting engineers. The plan consists of a set of projects to improve the design, selection, and implementation of advanced control systems which can improve the competitive position of utilities by lowering the cost of power production. The plan has been developed to serve several purposes: to serve as a guide for the direction of EPRI I C R D programs over the next five years; including project identification, scheduling and funding requirements, justification, expected benefits, etc.; to enable the utility fossil power generation industry to monitor and evaluate R D projects in terms of the industry needs; and to serve as a reference document for the utility fossil power generation industry in identifying project areas, project completion schedules, and technology transfer methods. Potential projects for the plan were identified by utilities according to important needs. A quantitative evaluation of the potential projects included a factor for priority, cost/benefit ratio,more » and project duration time.« less